Bukit Timah homes ask more of a tradesperson than a standard flat. Landed houses have several aircon systems, older roofs, long drainage runs and gardens that attract termites, especially near the greenery around the nature reserve.
Condos add access rules, management approvals and fixed working hours. Owners are busy and pay for reliability, so they compare firms on three things: who turns up, who explains the fault, and who is properly registered.
Depending on the trade, that can mean NEA for pest control, BCA for building and renovation work and PUB where plumbing is involved. Heavy rain in the wetter months keeps leaks and drainage problems coming, while aircon demand hardly slows in Singapore's heat.
Prices are in S$, with GST at 9% where the firm is registered.